Mary and Martha

Introduction:

I thought we would spend some time in this study looking at the characteristics of Mary and Martha that we should seek to have. I feel oftentimes we focus on the account of Mary and Martha to point out that Mary was making the better choice in the situation at hand, but I want to use this study to look at good qualities that both sisters had.

Verses to Remind Us to Develop These Characteristics:

1. Listening to Jesus

   1. Luke 11:28 “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
   2. Malachi 2:2 “If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.”
   3. Proverbs 4:20-21 “My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart.”
   4. Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
   5. Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
   6. James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

2. Believing in Jesus’ and Resurrection of Life Thereby

   1. John 6:44-47 Verse 47 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
   2. John 6:68-69 “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
   3. John 20:29-31 Verse 31 “but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
   4. John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
   5. Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
   6. Romans 10:9 “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
   7. 1 Peter 3:21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
   8. 1 Peter 1:8-9 “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

3. Making Jesus a Priority

   1. Matthew 10:37-39 “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that fidneth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
   2. Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
   3. Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
   4. Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”

4. Be Hospitable and Serve Others

   1. John 15:12 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
   2. Acts 20:35 “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
   3. Hebrews 6:10-11 “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minter. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end”
   4. Mark 10:42-45 “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministed unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Also Matthew 20:25-28)

Conclusion:

Let us seek to possess and develop these characteristics seen in the example of Mary and Martha: listen to Jesus, believe in Him and the resurrection, make Him a priority, and seek to serve others, so that we may be pleasing followers of Christ.